The Church of St. Nicholas ton
Ksenon (of the Foreigners) in Zakynthos is the Metropolitan Church of the
Ionian island. It is located in the centre of the city. It is not known when a
Church was first built on the same spot. Also, there are numerous conflicting
ideas on how the Church received its interesting name, i.e. of the Foreigners.
However, since the Venetian rule of the island, there has been a Church here,
an area where aristocratic families lived. The name of the Foreigners was most
probably assigned to this Church before the Venetian came to the island (1485).
It is a belief that it received this name due to the fact that in the Church
courtyard they buried foreign travellers and sailors and the orphans who died
in Zante. This Church is also known as the Church next to the Waters, due to
its position, close to the port of the city.
In 1492 nobleman Dimitrios
Amiralis restored the Church, which had been ruined. Since the late 15th
century it was functioning as a parish Church. In 1504 the Church is believed
to belong to the priest Leontios Katilianos, who in 1530 gave it to his son Fr.
Andrew, whilst in 1567 it was passed on to Fr. Germanos Chrysolouras.
Last recorded owner of the Church
is John Makris, after which the Church was converted under a Venetian ducal
decree (26th May 1621), in fief of each archpriest of Zakynthos, and
was affiliated with the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in the fort,
receiving the name Monastery of the Metropolis of Saints Nicholas and
John. This decision was taken by the
authorities at the request of the Orthodox community of the island to establish
an official seat for the Archpriest of the island. Zante during this period was
under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of Kefallonia and Zakynthos, whose
seat was located in Kefallonia. Therefore, the Church of St. Nicholas of the Foreigners
was the centre of Orthodox worship on the Ionian island between 1495 and the 17th
century. In 1647, the Church building was renovated at the expense of Dr
Dimitri Komoutos, who allegedly also financed the construction of the wooden
golden iconostasis, according to an inscription.
In 1824, Zakynthos became an
independent diocese. First Bishop was Gabriel Garzonis, whilst also the Church
of St. Nicholas was upgraded to a cathedral. The Church went through a number
of renovations, enriching it with marble new icons and gold.
Unfortunately, in 1953 the Church
was destroyed by the massive earthquake and fire, which destroyed the whole
city of Zakynthos. In August of 1967 the Church was consecrated, being built by
the people of Zakynthos and by the generosity of businessman Eleftherios
Mouzakis, who later funded the bell tower.
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